Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 142 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Pontiac Grand Prix, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 42 | 30% |
| Electrical system | 23 | 16% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 14 | 10% |
| Power train | 10 | 7% |
| Exterior lighting | 7 | 5% |
| Steering | 7 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 5 | 4% |
| Wheels | 3 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 2% |
| Structure | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED TO REPORT RECALL 91V214000 CONCERNING POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON 1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. THE CONTACT CALLED A DEALER), AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. THE
NHTSA complaint: Power train
THE STEERING COLUMN ON MY 92 PONTIAC HAD STARTED TO SMOKE THREE TIMES SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN 1994. THE SECOND WAS AROUND 1996. THE LAST TIME WAS LAST MONTH. THE LAST TIME WAS THE WORST. EACH TIME I SH
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
I HAD BOUGHT A CAR FROM A USED DEALERSHIP AND THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS WRONG WITH IT THAT I FEEL THAT IT SHOULDN'T HAVE EVEN BEEN SOLD. I FEEL THAT IT FALLS UNDER THE LEMON LAW ACT. IT HAS BEEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP LOTS OF
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX. WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER SIDE FRONT WHEEL CRACKED ALL THE WAY AROUND THE LUGS: NUTS CAUSING THE WHEEL TO FALL OFF. VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE REPAIR SHOP. THIS DID NOT CAUSE
NHTSA complaint: Wheels
VEHICLES RUNS ROUGH AND HESITATES DUE TO AN IGNITION MODULE FAILURE. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE IGNITION MODULE ONCE BEFORE, AND A COUPLE OF MONTHS LATER PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO THE INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE AND COOLANT LEAKING INSIDE THE ENGINE. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
I WOULD HAVE TO RESEARCH ALL THE DATES NEEDED FOR ABOVE INFO. MY 1992 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX SE IS A HAZARD TO MY HEALTH AND EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ROAD. I HAVE SMOKE FROM STEERING WHEEL AND LOSS OF POWER AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT,
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
HEARD LARGE BANG UNDER HOOD WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. TOOK CAR TO DEALER SINCE IT SOUNDED LIKE ENGINE TROUBLE. DEALER IDENTIFIED PROBLEM AS SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF ENGINE. PLUG AND CABLES APPEARED TO BE ORIGINAL (APPROX 1
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1992 Pontiac Grand Prix. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.
Risk: FUEL MAY LEAK, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Fix: DELPHI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE UPR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT DELPHI AT 877-411-8770.
THE REVERSE SERVO APPLY PIN MAY BIND IN THE CASE WHICH COULD CAUSE REVERSE BAND DISTRESS (LOSS OR SLIPPING OF REVERSE), REVERSE BAND DRAG IN DRIVE RANGE (POOR PERFORMANCE -- POOR POWER), OR THE TRANSMISSION TO REMAIN IN REVERSE WHILE THE SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS NEUTRAL GEAR POSITION.
Risk: IF THE TRANSMISSION REMAINS IN REVERSE WHILE THE SHIFTINDICATOR SHOWS NEUTRAL, THE VEHICLE MAY UNEXPECTEDLY MOVE REARWARD AND RESULTIN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Fix: REPLACE THE TRANSAXLE WHERE REQUIRED.
| Reliability raw | 82 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 78 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 142 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 42 of them (30%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.